Skirt Fitting Tools
Skirts size by hip. The waist almost always needs adjustment. These tools handle both.
Skirt Size Finder
FreeFind your skirt size across Big 4, Burda, Cashmerette, Closet Core, True Bias, and Seamwork. Sized by hip with waist adjustment note.
Waist-to-Hip Adjuster
FreeAfter sizing by hip, calculate how much to take in at the waist and how to distribute it across side seams and darts.
Swayback Adjuster
FreeBodice toolFix CB waist gaping. The swayback wedge tuck applies to skirt backs just as well as bodice backs.
Skirt fitting is simpler than pants — but not simple
Unlike pants, skirts don't have a crotch curve — which eliminates the hardest fitting variable. But the hip-to-waist ratio still needs careful attention. Most pattern companies size skirts by hip (the widest point), which can't be eased after cutting. The waist is then adjusted in.
Common skirt fitting issues: waist gaping at center back (often swayback — use the Swayback Adjuster), side seams rotating forward or backward (grainline issue from dart placement), or visible pulling through the hip (sized too small at hip).
The fitting sequence for skirts: size by hip → adjust waist → check for swayback → fit on a toile.